Spice Restaurant & Bar
Around the midpoint, short detour
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Hours: 2–11 pm
+17176913131
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 32m
Distance
242.5 mi
390 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hollidaysburg, PA
Michael Taccetta
Croydon, PA to Hollidaysburg, PA is 242.5 miles and takes about 4h 32m via the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-99, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, taking you from the Northeast region towards its western part. Given its highway-focused nature and reasonable duration, this trip is well-suited for a single-day journey. You'll be covering a significant portion of the distance on major interstates, making it a straightforward and efficient route.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
121.3 miles from Croydon, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 206.1 mi | 3h 43m |
| I 99 | 22.3 mi | 23m |
| Charger Highway | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| Street Road | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| State Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Lincoln Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Business 220 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Woodbury Pike | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Croydon, PA and Hollidaysburg, PA.
Start on State Road
Turn right onto Street Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 1
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 276; PATP
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 220 BUS
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 99; US 220
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on Woodbury Pike
Turn left onto PA 36
Keep left at fork onto PA 36
Continue on PA 36
Turn right onto US 22
Turn right onto Clark Street
Turn right onto South Juniata Street
Arrive at destination
Since this is a 4.5-hour drive with a low fuel cost estimate of $40, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop and the longest stretch being over 200 miles, plan your break strategically around the midway point or a convenient service plaza on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as long highway stretches can sometimes mean fewer immediate exit options for gas.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 53 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.3 miles or 2h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hollidaysburg, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Croydon, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Croydon, PA
This is one driving day of about 242.5 miles and 4h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 121.3 miles from Croydon, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 206.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop · around the midpoint
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 2–11 pm
+17176913131
Around the midpoint, short detour
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Hours: 2–11 pm
+17176913131
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+12158862266
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Malvern, Pennsylvania
+16106445822
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
Hours: 8 am–12 pm
+16106248058
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm
+16105954359
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Ambler, Pennsylvania
Hours: 6 am–6 pm
+12674688000
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Oaks, Pennsylvania
Hours: 3–9 pm
+16106660600
Visit websiteNear the start, ~10 min detour
Horsham, Pennsylvania
Hours: 10:30 am–3 pm
+12156722277
Visit websiteNear the start, ~10 min detour
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+16102651071
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Hummelstown, Pennsylvania
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+17175668131
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 213.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Street Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 276, PATP
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 276 Toll West: Harrisburg, Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Altoona, Johnstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$40.20 one way
$80.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $44.03 | $88.06 |
| premium | $4.93 | $47.03 | $94.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.54 | $107.08 |
Estimated Tolls: $26.80
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Tolls
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$92–$117
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.8 | 0 | $25.46 | $11.64 |
| Efficient EV | 60.6 | 0 | $21.22 | $9.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97 | 1 | $33.95 | $15.52 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Croydon on Tuesday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Hollidaysburg on Tuesday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
46°F
Middlesex, PA
121 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
National Historical Park
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
National Historical Park
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
National Memorial
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
National Historical Park
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 94% of the drive on major roads like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-99. Expect long stretches of high-speed driving, including one uninterrupted segment of 206.1 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The Charger Highway also contributes to the predominantly fast-paced character of this journey. While the landscape may shift, the driving experience remains consistently focused on covering distance efficiently via these main arteries.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near Street Road.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 242.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (Street Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Croydon, PA and Hollidaysburg, PA, road signs point toward Altoona and Johnstown.
Altoona
Johnstown
Founded 1768
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 242.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Croydon, PA or browse trips ending in Hollidaysburg, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.